A Tale of Martial Arts, Deception, and Redemption

Read Time:4 Minute, 18 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Warriors Two (Zan xian sheng yu zhao qian Hua)
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Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Year Released: 1978, 2023 Arrow Video Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director(s): Sammo Hung
Writer(s): On Szeto
Cast: Yuen Biao, Ho Wang, Sammo Hung, Ka-Yan Leung, Chia-Yung Liu, Billy Chan, Eric Tsang, Fat Chung, Ching-Ying Lam, Hoi-Sang Lee, Tiger Yang
Language: Cantonese with English subtitles
Where To Watch: available June 6, 2023, pre-order here www.arrowvideo.com or www.mvdshop.com

RAVING REVIEW: Immerse yourself in the exciting world of martial arts cinema as we journey into the thrill-filled universe of WARRIORS TWO. Master martial artist and actor Sammo Hung, known for his agile moves and unique comedic touch, stamps his memorable presence in this film. His distinct humor, however, may not be for everyone, especially if you’re not a fan of this style of martial arts film. The narrative unfolds as a gripping tale of a motley crew of criminals who are shown to be part of a smokescreen for a far more sinister plot that does not bode well for the town's leader.

In the heart of this storm of deception and action, we meet a bank teller played convincingly by the talented Ho (Casanova) Wong. When he accidentally uncovers a deadly plan to eliminate the town's leader. A narrow escape for our protagonist after dishing out more information than he should leads him to his buddy Fei Chun, brought to life by Sammo Hung. The news of his mother's demise at the hands of Mo's gang, delivered by Chun, is a bitter pill for Chen to swallow and kindles his determination to master Wing Chun under the tutelage of the experienced martial artist Mr. Tsang.

We’ve been getting a flood of Sammo Hung films in the past few years, and that’s a good sign for everyone. So many of these classics have reminded in some form of limbo for too long; at best, some have had half-hearted DVD transfers, but they seem to be getting the quality transfers they deserve now.

The unique career journey of Sammo Hung underscores his pivotal role in the martial arts movie industry. He adeptly filled the void left by the legendary Bruce Lee before handing the baton to Jackie Chan, thus cementing his reputation as a significant triple threat – an actor, director, and industry stalwart. Although he often doesn’t get the credit he deserves compared to the other two, he left a mark on the genre that will forever be remembered.

One of the standout elements of WARRIORS TWO is its mesmerizing martial arts sequences. This film has so much choreography; the fight sequences felt like they took over half the movie, which is remarkable considering the effort. The impeccably choreographed training scenes are genuinely a sight to behold.

The story takes a darker turn when the film's twist is revealed (I won’t lie, I didn’t see it coming, which in retrospect, shocked me.) While the veteran actor Ho Wong delivers a solid performance, Sammo Hung emerges as the scene-stealer. Striking a balance between humor and action, WARRIORS TWO embodies the multifaceted talents of Sammo Hung and makes a notable contribution to the martial arts genre.

BONUS MATERIALS:
2K restorations from the original elements by Fortune Star of both the original HK Theatrical Cut and the shorter Export Cut
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
Original lossless Cantonese and Mandarin mono audio for the HK Theatrical Cut, plus lossless English mono for the export cut
Two choices of English dubbed audio for the HK Theatrical Cut: the original export dub mono (with Cantonese patches for missing scenes) and the newer 5.1 dub created for international DVD presentations
Optional English subtitles for the HK Theatrical Cut and English subtitles for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and hard-of-hearing on the Export Cut
Commentary on the HK Theatrical Cut by martial arts cinema expert Frank Djeng & actor Bobby Samuels
Commentary on the Export Cut by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
Archival documentary The Way of the Warrior: The Making of Warriors Two, featuring interviews with stars Sammo Hung, Bryan “Beardy” Leung Kar-Yan, Feng Hak-An, Casanova Wong, and Wing Chun master Guy Lai
Archival interview with Bryan “Beardy” Leung Kar-Yan
Original theatrical trailers
Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Jonathan Clements and original press materials

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[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO/MVD ENTERTAINMENT]